Greetings
Bula and Vinaka from Fiji!
WET AND WETTER!
We are still in cyclone season here but have not experienced any additional
named cyclones since we last wrote to you. We have though received over
10 inches of additional rain. Thankfully we have not experienced any
more flooding and our container has remained dry inside. All the books
I brought out of the container that were water damaged from the last time are
hung up drying, that is when we have sunny conditions. I have
them hanging on a rotary clothes hoist and under the car port. One side
effect of water damage to books is that they now smell, another side effect
it that they are much bulkier. (The swelling of the paper doesn't go away when
they are dried out. Either way they will never be back in my office but perhaps
they can still be useful in less confined spaces. (As I was writing this report
we have a low pressure cell over the island and are experiencing cyclonic winds,
rains and thunder. It is blowing the rain into the louver
windows along the front of the house, which are 10 feet back on the verandah.
We have had over 1.5 inches of rain in 15 minutes and it is still coming in
waves and the electricity is flickering. Kathy did towels this morning and they
are wetter now then when she hung them out in the verandah. We have no
electric dryer so the wind needs to continue but without the driving rain.)
OUTREACH TEACHING
The last month I was holding a Bible Class for a couple of hours on Sunday evening
at a local housing project common assembly hall. It costs us about $20
per night. I was teaching a class on Old Testament History and Geography.
We had advertised with handouts and in the newspaper. We had a couple
of visitors. The initial interest was good but the turnout was not very good.
We experienced afternoon rains most evenings and people just stayed home.
So we have put this class in the "tried but didn't work right now"
section. There are several hundred people in the immediate vicinity who
we thought might be interested in such a study but that's what thinking does
for you. The feedback is very positive for a full time Bible School though!
We are looking at other ways to teach as well.
INFLATION WOES!
We are aware that inflation and higher prices have an affect on what we have
available to spend. We know you have been affected with the higher gasoline
prices and such as well. We are not immune to these fluctuations either.
We get hit with a double whammy in Fiji (overseas) because we have to contend
with currency exchange as well inflation. The US dollar has been losing
value over the past months. When we arrived last June the exchange rate
was $1.66 FJD per $1 USD. This month the exchange rate is $1.48 FJD per
$1 USD. Our gasoline now costs $6.47 US per gallon. Flour and
rice have increased in cost every week. All other import grocery items
have increased as well. Potatoes from New Zealand now cost $1 USD per pound
from 50¢ a pound in December. The newspaper, electricity and water
have also increased. Everything costs more but our support remains the
same. With the devaluation of money and the increased prices we are spending
25% more for things than when we came last June, and it is expected to get worse.
To those who support our work and make it possible that we can be here we wish
to thank you very much. We have heard that many congregations there in
the USA are having to cut back on expenditures due to this economic downturn.
We pray and plead that you look with mercy on your mission work and missionaries
and not resort to cutting back on the Lord's work in foreign fields.
We have no way of making up for the inflationary increase in costs other than
your generosity. We definitely have no way of making up for cut backs
of support while being so far away. Please and thank you!
TEACHING AT SABETO
I finally finished my Sunday morning Bible class at Sabeto that I was teaching
on Evidences. A number of visitors have attended and the members were
very encouraged by the lessons (so they said).
WHERE'S THE MONEY!
Most of you like us are bombarded on a daily basis with the news reports of
the election primaries. We receive CNN here and try to keep up with the news
(except from 11:50 am-12:20 pm every day when we have sun interference with
the satellite transmissions). It was reported today that the main contenders
for the office of the president of the USA which pays $200,000 per year have
raised over $790 million (that's $790,000,000 dollars) to date. That is not
even talking about what they will raise and spend before the end of the day
on Nov 11th. I don't know about you but that is a lot of money and look at what
is it being spent on. It is no wonder to me that government workers have a hard
time understanding the law of diminishing returns. Even spending $800,001.00
to get a job worth less ($200,000 per year x 4) is not profitable. However you
are right the money they are spending is not their personal money so it is much
easier to spend, unrestrained. One candidate is said to have "loaned"
funds to their campaign. That is not the same as "using" their own
money. CNN even reported this morning (before the news blackout) that all the
candidates are promising special trips and perks for people who donate to their
perspective campaigns. (I'm thinking these are the same people who are sending
me all these "you have been chosen to receive millions of dollars, you've
won the lottery, you're such a good guy we want to send you $93 million"
emails, of which I have received over 40 the past month.) That got me thinking.................
How to get people to help us in our need for funds for the "Christian Institute
of Biblical Studies" here in Fiji. What trip or perk can we use to entice
people to give to our need rather than to other wants? Muslims are promised
heaven with 70 virgins if they sacrifice to the ultimate Muslim cause.
I guess we don't have any enticement so we will but ask, plead and beg. All
we can say is that God will bless you in this life and in the life beyond. Will
you continue or start helping finance CIBS-Fiji.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray and consider the following needs we still have: (feel free to copy
and send this email to any and everyone you know for their consideration)
1. Personal support: we have about $2900 monthly. The budget we have proposed
we need an additional $600 plus $800 monthly for work fund expenses. We have
been able to cope up until now on what we are getting but will need to get additional
funds especially as we get more involved in the work here.
2. "The Christian Institute of Biblical Studies - Fiji"
>Immediate funds of $50,000 to buy land and build basic facilities (URGENT!)
>Additional funds to update facilities: classroom, office, student & faculty housing $75,000-$125,000
>Monthly funds of $3,600 for 5 years or until the school can be self supporting from planted cash crops
Funds can be send to our sponsor:
Mt Hope church of Christ
2830 Mt Hope Road
Webb City MO 64870
or you can contact my son about helping
Again we thank you who have emailed us this past month and sent letters and
care packages of encouragement.
In Christian Service and because of the Cross of Jesus Christ
Tobey & Kathy